Ruptured gastro-intestinal stromal tumor as a surgical emergency: A case report and literature review

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs of the small bowel are rare, and often present with an abdominal mass and/or bleeding. Chemotherapy and surgery are the mainstay of therapy. Here, we discuss an unusual case of a ruptured jejunal GIST with hemoperitoneum and recurrence despite surgical excision followed by Imatinib treatment. Forty-five cases of ruptured small intestinal GISTs were identified in the literature. Most cases were in males and were found to be at the site of the jejunum.